What I’m Watching: The Closer

The Closer: Season 7, Episode 12 “You Have the Right to Remain Jolly” (B)

This holiday episode was certainly more than a bit silly, but it was still fun. It’s always good to have Fred Willard on board as a guest star, particularly when he’s playing a smoking, drinking Santa Claus on the hook for murder. The fact that he admitted all of his potential wrongdoings before being Mirandized was the typical kind of event that would happen on this show and then require infinite subsequent explanations by the likes of Provenza and Flynn to their various superiors. It turned out, of course, that the culprit was actually his niece, played by Lauren Bowles, most recently seen as Holly om “True Blood.” The presence of Buzz’s sister Casey allowed for some humorous introductions to each of the members of the squad, particularly the categorization of Provenza as “the grumpy one.” Everyone gawking over her became a little ridiculous, and Will’s efforts to describe himself as the chief to impress her were embarrassing. Buzz’s desire to believe in Santa felt inappropriately childish, and digging the letter Casey wrote out of his files was the kind of miracle this show never needs. The person who’s going to need a miracle is Brenda, who, after hearing a cruel rundown of the case against her from Gavin, realizes she has definitely been naughty. Ever one to stir up drama, Gavin, after demanding more legal fees, had to go one step further and reveal to Brenda that it wasn’t Pope but Fitz who paid the initial portion of her legal fees, something sure to cause some tension in the coming weeks.